Can you believe it’s been 20 years since Howard Alan Events and American Craft Endeavors started the Downtown Sarasota Art and Craft Festival? It’s been a whirlwind of talented friends, loyal visitors and beautiful art, and at HAE/ACE, we’re thrilled to continue bringing Sarasota residents the best in arts and crafts year after year.

You probably know Sarasota for its gorgeous beaches, breathtaking architecture and incomparable hospitality. Known for its shops, restaurants, and old-school Florida charm, Sarasota is a popular vacation destination for families, couples and retired folks looking to enjoy the wide range of activities that the Gulf Coast has to offer. In fact, Sarasota Magazine’s Best of Sarasota 2014 list featured some pretty great reasons for coming to this coastal town. From diverse arts and entertainment to new and innovative restaurants and shops, there’s something for everyone in Sarasota.

Still, we have our own list of reasons why we think Sarasota rocks, and at the top of that list is the Downtown Sarasota Art and Craft Festival. Between our amazing participating artists, our exciting vendors and the awesome family fun, there’s a special place in our hearts for this one-of-a-kind annual event.

Enjoy talent from all over the country in one place. For the 20th consecutive year, American Craft Endeavors and Howard Alan Events are bringing you some of the best artistic talent in the U.S. With pieces in almost every artistic medium known to man, art enthusiasts and collectors have a unique chance to find something they will love to add to their collection. Artists will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, and to chat with patrons about their methods, experience and artistic passions. What a great way to introduce your family to the visual arts, too! The festival is open to all ages, so little ones and older folks alike will find something of interest no matter where or who they are.

Artist Spotlight:

Add some flair to your kitchen time with a beautifully handcrafted apron by the talented Leah Jamison.

Jewelry lovers will have their socks knocked off by the unique designs made of watch parts by Annemarie Siegel.

Get a head start on your holiday shopping. In case you’d forgotten (not a chance, right?) the holidays are just a couple of months away — A COUPLE OF MONTHS! With only a few weeks until the holiday season, the Downtown Sarasota Art and Craft Festival is a great opportunity to find the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for person in your life. From watercolors to photography, from handcrafted jewelry to original apparel, you can’t go wrong with a unique and beautiful piece of art for your friends and loved ones. And, with budgets ranging from $3-15,000, there is truly something for everyone there.

Celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month with us. One of the most significant things about the Downtown Sarasota Art and Craft Festival is that it takes place during one of the most important months of the year. Each fall, we encourage our artists and patrons to participate in Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing a pink item of clothing, to stand in solidarity with those patients and families suffering from the reality of breast cancer.

Did you know that one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with some sort of invasive breast cancer in their lifetime? That’s 12% of U.S. women — devastating statistics for sure. But thanks to artists like Michele Myers, who made handmade soaps with the pink ribbon, and Melanie Van Houten, who created a breast cancer awareness-inspired painting specifically for the Downtown Sarasota Art and Craft Festival, women and families in Sarasota and beyond can learn more about breast cancer and how they can help eradicate this silent killer. The best part is that a portion of the sales from these breast cancer awareness items will be donated to the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.

Come see us this weekend, Oct. 4-5, as we take over Main Street in Downtown Sarasota for the 20th Annual Downtown Sarasota Art and Craft Festival. For more information, and to stay updated on the latest Howard Alan Events and American Craft Endeavors shows year-round, don’t forget to visit us at www.artfestival.com.

Join us in our social media communities, where we share fun, informative and valuable posts. Want to be a part of our social media family? Post pictures of you at any of our festivals on Instagram, Pinterest, or Facebook. We’ve simplified our hashtags: just add #HAEArtFest or #ACECraftFest, depending on the event. This weekend’s show is kind of special, though, since it’s both art and craft — so for this show, add #ACEArtCraftFest to your pics — and share your fun-filled Sarasota experience with us!